-
Magnetic resonance elastography is a recently introduced technique in order to avoid the problem of performing liver biopsies: with this method, the difference in elasticity of liver parenchyma (and consequently the presence and the extension of a possible fibrosis) is calculated through the [...]
-
Mammography decreases mortality for breast cancer of 15-20%, but ultrasonography is capable to reveal tumours that can escape to X-ray (above all in very dense breasts, which are already themselves at a greater cancer risk). Considering the fact that ultrasonography reliability is very [...]
-
CT angiography is becoming more and more used to perform diagnoses of pulmonary embolism, replacing perfusion lung scintigraphy, which, up to some time ago, was considered the gold standard in this diagnosis. In order to compare these two techniques, an international multicentric randomized trial [...]
-
The American Cancer Society has issued new guidelines for breast cancer screening, using magnetic resonance (RMI) together with traditional mammography. In these recommendations, we find the following advises:
• A yearly screening with RMI is recommended for patients with BRCA mutation and for [...]
-
False positives are unfortunately common events with mammographies, so it becomes important to know which effects they produce on women. Some researchers have performed a systematic review of literature, identifying 23 trials concerning false mammographic positivities. Women having a falsely [...]
-
Since colonscopy is more and more spreading, because of screening diagnostic procedures, it is important to know which can be its complications. Some Californian researchers examined electronic medical records of 16.318 screening colonscopies performed on symptomatic patients. Complications (among [...]
-
In almost all industrialized nations, mammographic screening is proposed since 50, basing this choice on the evidence of a shown decrease in breast cancer mortality. But in the USA, some guidelines tend to advise starting mammography at 40, even if the usefulness of screening at this age is not at [...]
-
Multilayer CT technique has acquired more and more importance as a diagnostic non-invasive method for the diagnosis of coronary atheromasic plaques. In this prospective study, partially sponsored by the producer of the X-ray machinery, the usefulness of multilayer CT was evaluated in 103 patients [...]
-
In patients with cirrhosis the endoscopic screening is indicated to verify the possible presence of esophageal varices, in order to start a preventive therapy with beta-blockers to avoid bleeding. Esophageal varices are associated with both thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly. In a previous study, [...]
-
It is not clear yet if PSA screening is able to decrease the specific mortality due to prostate cancer in healthy elderly, but it is however accepted at a general level that the test performance is not indicated when life expectance is lower than 10 years. Some researchers of the American Veterans [...]